How Two Non-Mountaineers Became Key Players for Best Virginia

Best Virginia is one of the final eight teams out of 64 in contention for the $1 million grand prize after a win over Elite Nation Tuesday. Despite not attending WVU, James Reese V and JD Weatherspoon have played major roles in the team’s 3-0 record.

Reese is a 2022 graduate of South Carolina and has started every game for Best Virginia, leading the TBT in points scored with 65. He scored 20 or more points in the past two games, including the game-winner in the Elam Ending against Elite Nation.

James Reese with the ender!

Best Virginia is moving on pic.twitter.com/wmP7dErBtJ

— Luke Blain (@LukeDBlain) July 23, 2025

JD Weatherspoon graduated from Toledo in 2015, playing two seasons there and his first two at Ohio State. Weatherspoon has been a key front court presence for Best Virginia with 14 points and 10 rebounds against Herd That along with 16 points and seven rebounds against Elite Nation.

Weatherspoon recorded no playing time in the team’s first game, where they narrowly topped Dubois Dream 72-69. The 32-year-old forward said keeping a positive attitude and being ready to help the team was important.

“I could have took negative energy towards the team, you know, been pouting. You can’t do that,” Weatherspoon said. “I’m going on 10 years of playing professional basketball, so I know the guys need me.”

Weatherspoon HUGE AND-ONE for Best Virginia💪

The crowd is ON THEIR FEET in Charleston!!@finalfourcast now leads by SIX with 5 min left to play in Q4 on YouTube👀 pic.twitter.com/LNwGTPRPoG

— TBT (@thetournament) July 23, 2025

Weatherspoon reached out to Head Coach Jarrod West Sr. after the team’s first round game, which West detailed after the win over Herd That.

“He texted me and as a professional, he told me, ‘hey, coach, I can help’… But I said ‘Be ready,’” West said.

Best Virginia had little practice time ahead of the tournament. With Weatherspoon being a late addition to the roster, West was unsure of his capabilities. West said the three games Best Virginia has played have helped him become more familiar with the roster.

“I didn’t know what he had. I didn’t know who he was. And I made a big, big mistake not playing in the first game,” West said. “Now that I know what I have. And once again, to his credit, he gave me some grace. Now that I know what I have. So the beauty of, I’ve seen us in the trenches, so I know what we have, which is a lot.

Reese joined Best Virginia through a connection with former WVU guard Erik Stevenson, who could not play in the TBT this year because he was active for the Miami Heat Summer League team.

West knew of Reese before he joined the roster, since he played for North Texas against his son, Jarrod West, who was at Marshall. West Sr. said he had been a fan of Reese’s since seeing him play in college.

“He’s about the right things. He’s a dog on D. Everything that I’ve tried to instill in my boys, he’s a coach’s dream,” West said. “So didn’t know him personally. I know that he and Little Jarrod knew each other from competing against each other. So when the call came in about James Reese, a couple people didn’t know him. And I was like, he’s a no brainer.”

Best Virginia will play again at 6 p.m. Monday against Shell Shock, the Maryland alumni team at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.

Find more coverage of Best Virginia at WV Sports Now.